Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-04-14
added burden placed on his remote COM

l
the producer. The grower of agricultu-
raj staples at the west and the manufac-
ture of heavy wares at the east will both
suffer some reduction of profits, while
the prices to consumers will at the same
time be somewhat enhanced.
! 2. As a consequence, unless there
! should be an unusual foreign demand
arising within a twelve month, the ipfu-
ence of the act will be especially detri-
mental to the western grower Of agricul-
| tural staples.
3. The eastern manufacturer Of heavy
wares who is dependent mainly upon the
west and south for his market, will per-
haps be the greatest immediate sufferer
Wherever there is local competition he will
} find himself excluded, and many who have
| been running close to the wind in hope of
better times will be forced to succumb.
4. This sudden and radical change in
the conditions affecting business Will
crush out many weak aud struggling es-
adjustments in all branches of trade.
5. On the other hand, it will not seri-
ously affect such great combinations as
the Anthracite Coal syndicate, the STAN
dard Oh Company, and other similar
''pools" which, in effect,
! CONTROL THE SUPPLY
OF specific product. II will perhaps re-
duce somewhat the consumption OF an
| thracIte in the west, though that is not
! certain, since it may be doubted if the
| law will be construed so as to put hard
and soft coal on par as to rate, and if it
is not, there is no reason why the anthra-
cite rate from the east should not con-
tinue as favorable as at the present time.
| Of b.A MIL ct In
in which they deal, will still enable such
combinations to suppress injurious COM
petition.
For time, therefore, the influence of
the act will be to produce still further
concentration in business by reducing the
number Of competitors. in the various
lines of trade and manufacture. Should
the act continue in force these Influences
will De largely counterbalanced and, in
time, no doubt, more than overcome, by
others Of a very different character.
| Among these resultant effects may be es-
pecially noted the following:
l. The encouragement of local manu-
featuring establishments. This will
greatly stimulate southern and western
manufactures, and in corresponding de-
| gree depress eastern mechanical indus
movement of population. While specific
western interests will at first suffer, the
west, as q whole, will no doubt gain
essentially by the diversifcation of her
industries. Alphabetically, the east will
gain some advantage by reduction OF
western competition, but it will by no
means counterbalance its loss in manu-
features.
- 4 Ia nd irnp 4rah 10
transportation of product ard material
over the same route will be rapidly re
duCed. It is now the habit to send the
raw material to New York or some other
commercial center, for distribution TO the
manufacturers, and then to send the
manufactured product back there for dis
tribution to the trade. This course of
| trade was largely the result of prefer
entail rates, and their removal will naUu-
rally produce contrary effect. EQuable
rates ere the jobbers' worst enemy. The
act will undoubtedly bring the manufac-
turer and consumer nearer together.
3. In like manner, the tendency of
manufacturers to the great cities will be
checked. The small town is
THE NATURAL HOME
of the manufacturer. Rents are lower,
labor cheaper and more contented and
risks less than in q city. Preferential
rates have driven the manufacturer to
the city and forced the Iaborer into
the tenement house. Their abolition will
remove this tendency and serve to dis
tribute rather than Condense our indus
tries and population.
4. 1t will tend also, in another way, to
build up the small towns rather than the
great cities. Heretofore the railroad has
| been, in a sense, compelled to make itself
the enemy of the small towns along It's
route and the ally Of the great city
to which it leads, by the rivalry CT trunk
lines in regard to through freight. This
rivalry being rendered practically i'm
possible by the act, the road that is
wisely managed will turn it's attention
at once to fostering manufactures along
its line by emphasizing the difference
in rate in favor of the interior or even
suburban manufacturer. If the law is
continued in effect it will be found that
the power to distinguish in favor of the
short haul is far more potent weapon in
the hands Of the injurious railroad man
ager than the reduction in favor of the
long one. 1t does not need any pro-
fupdity to demonstrate that the pros
perity Of q railroad thus protected de-
ponds mainly en- the development of q
traffic supply along it's own lines. The act
will therefore be very decidedly to the
advantage of the smaller towns and the
relief of the OvercroWded cities.
Before these Interior influences have
been fully developed, however, we shall
have first to meet the force of the imme-
date results Of the law upon the public
sentiment ard general business interests
These may be summarized as follows
promising always that the normal opera
ton of the act is not interfered with by
war or other exceptional influences:
Ia decided reduction in the genersl
manufacturing output, and a consequent
reduction in wages except to those en-
gaged in railroad employment, where
there will be slight but general advance
2. The amount received by the pro-
ducers of agricultural staples. in the west
during the ensuing year will be unexpec,
tedly reduced and
GENERAL DISSATISFACTION
will be thereby engendered, it being the
general impression that Immediate per.
sonal advantage would secure to each OF